Interpol warrant out against Shamyana owner for rent fraud

Dubai Police have sought an international arrest warrant against owner of Shamyana Entertainment and referred the case to public prosecution.

The police have put the name of Haitham bin Mahmood bin Shukri on the Interpol wanted list. The Saudi has duped 78 people out of Dh5.8 million by renting them flats that did not belong to him, police said in a statement.

The police said according to their investigation the conman left the country on August 30 to Lebanon.

He was using Dubizzle to publish advertisements for renting apartments and condominiums, the police said.

The police reports showed there were 70 apartments rented in the Greens, two in Jumeirah Beach Residence, two in Tecom, one in Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers and a villa in Downtown Dubai.

Abu Ali, who rented an apartment in Greens, said: “For the past few weeks have been really tough for me. It’s been a nightmare. I have already paid Dh75,000 for the apartment and now my landlord, who hasn’t got his rent, want me out of his apartment. I am not sure what I will do but I want the police to arrest this fraudster and punish him.”

Emirates 24/7 reported earlier that Dubai’s Real Estate Regulatory Agency has received complaints against “some” companies who are involved in sub-letting properties despite their trade license not allowing them to conduct such an activity.

The agency has also advised victims of the sub-letting scams to contact the Dubai Police and the rental dispute settlement committee while they along with the Dubai Economic Department (DED) are continuing their awareness and inspection campaign.

A number of companies in Dubai are involved in fleecing landlords and tenants of their money and in most cases the companies never had a license to sub-lease the properties.